Shanyse Strickland

Shanyse Strickland is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer and arranger. Drawing from early experiences across a wide spectrum of genres, Shanyse has developed a distinctive voice on the horn that now defines her focused career.

Originally from Akron, OH, Shanyse has led a multi-faceted career through mediums of performance, composing and educating. She received a BA in Music Performance at Youngstown State University, along with a MM from Duquesne University and an Artist Diploma from Montclair State University. Some highlights of her career include playing trombone and flute for the reuniting Ohio Players, winning the 2016 International Horn Symposium’s jazz competition, performing at the 2019 and 2021 Heisman Trophy Ceremony aired on ESPN. She was the featured artist for the International Horn Symposium 57 in 2024, and performed for two national tours playing principal horn in the production of Into the Spider-verse. She actively plays with the American Composer’s Orchestra in New York and does freelance work in the area as well.

Shanyse has written and published over thirty-five original works, one of which was premiered by the horn section of the New Haven Symphony titled Moods. In early March of 2023, Shanyse’s piece titled Afrofuturism was selected to be performed at the Music by Women Festival at the Mississippi University for Women. The piece won multiple film awards in the greater Ohio area, including acceptance into the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF). Shanyse’s work, When I’m Older was commissioned to be inserted in a book highlighting living Black composers that is accessible to beginning horn players in high school or middle school. Shanyse has written works for the Seattle Symphony horn section for their chamber music series, along with working alongside Danielle Kuhlmann, 4th horn of Seattle, and fellow member of the horn quartet Ghengis Barbie, who Shanyse also wrote and arranged music for.

As an educator and influencer, Shanyse has done numerous masterclasses, clinics and lectures across the country. She is currently taking over a sabbatical at Ithaca College as professor of horn for Spring 2026.